Introduction to LCA & EPD

Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) is a method used to assess the environmental impact of products and services. It helps quantify environmental impacts, identify improvement opportunities, and optimize sustainability strategies. By integrating the life cycle perspective into business strategy, value can be created both in the short and long term.

Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) are an important tool for evaluating the sustainability of products. EPDs provide a comprehensive view of a product's environmental impact, from raw material extraction to disposal or recycling. These assessments follow specific rules, such as Product Category Rules (PCR), to ensure comparability between products. The PCR for construction products, EN 15804, is particularly well-known in the industry. With increasing environmental awareness, EPDs are expected to play a larger role in guiding consumer choices and promoting sustainable practices.

This training provides knowledge about LCA and EPD, and how to create them. You will learn about the standards and principles that guide LCA and EPD, such as ISO 14040 and ISO 14044, as well as PCR. By the end of the training, you will understand LCA and EPD, their applications, and market trends, including barriers and driving forces.

Content

• Introduction to LCA 
  • What is life cycle assessment (LCA)?
  • Understand the essence of LCA, its framework, and the guiding principles laid out in ISO 14040
  • Break down the stages of the framework and learn how to practically define and implement them
• Environmental Product Declarations (EPD):
  • What is an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)?
  • What makes up an EPD and how to interpret a Product Category Rule (PCR) to craft a meaningful EPD?
  • Navigate the EPD review process and understand the key steps involved
• LCA and EPD demand and trends
  • Shall explore the demand for LCA and EPDs
  • Drivers and barriers to LCA and EPD development
  • Market response and latest developments shaping the landscape

Objectives

After the training, you will have knowledge and understanding of:

• Understand what LCA and EPD are and recognize their framework. Recognize the standards and principles that guide them.
• Identify how to do a Life Cycle Assessment and create an Environmental Product Declaration. Develop knowledge of calculating the environmental impacts of a product system and make sense of the results.
• Consider life cycle inventory data management, quality issues, reporting and understand the importance of third-party verification.
• Understands the demand for LCA and EPDs, barriers and the driving forces, market responses, and the latest developments.

Target Group

The training is aimed at managers in manufacturing operations, the service sector and private companies and public administrations such as environmental and sustainability managers/coordinators, environmental and economic analysts, consultants or others who are interested in LCA and EPD.

PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE

The training does not require any prior knowledge

Course details

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